[Mikey]

Our goose has been sitting on eggs for some weeks now.  She started erratically, spending much time away from the nest, and the eggs at that time were cold to the touch.

For the last 3 weeks she has been sitting 24hours a day so we hoped that she may hatch the late layer eggs but there is an unpleasant smell in the goose shed and we suspect that the early laid eggs have addled. 

When should we give up hope and clear everything out?

[Wild Pony]

Goose eggs are incubated for approx 35 days give or take. Is she sat tight?? If she was to go for a leg stretch maybe you could lay the back of your hand on the eggs and see wich one is cold and remove, leaving the others alone. If she is sat tight she's not going to appreciate you disturbing her, then its all down to the lap of the gods. Birds usually do kick out the non starters themselves.

Good luck anyways.

[Nails]

Hi Mikey i have a goose sitting! Can't get anywhere near her, just sit back and wait i am afraid, she will get off as soon as her babies are big enough, i have 2 girls and they are both sitting on the nest, i have trouble putting food and water down for them, as they hiss and the one thats not directly on the eggs charges at me when i go anywhere near, so as wild pony says its in the laps of the gods!!!!

[Mikey]

Thanks Pony and Nails.

What concerns us is whether the eggs are still live.  The earliest ones have been there since March when the goose was sitting very erratically (it is her first year).

We have managed to take 2 eggs when she was stretching her legs and have candled them. One looked good, one not so good but we don't really know what we are looking at.

We worry that we will have a nest of bad eggs. There is already a bad smell in the shed.

How much longer should we give her?

[Nails]

Mikey will she let you get near her???
If so see if you can candle the eggs again, if not give her another week or so and then take them away, if by that time you still haven't had any hatch i would re candle and any you see moving i would pop in an inncy if you have one.

[Wild Pony]

Any news??? I got my towels and kettle ready